Page 72 of Whistle

Ronnie gaped.

Hell, we all did.

Coach gave him a little shake. “You get me?”

Ronnie nodded.

Coach let him go.

Ronnie smoothed his shirt, then touched his cheek, which was already bruising. “I’ll tell the dean.”

“Go ahead.” Coach invited. “I’ll meet you there.”

“Us too,” Ryan said, his voice almost as quiet as Coach’s but nowhere near as menacing. “We’ll tell the dean about your bullying, bigotry, and spy games.”

“Spy games,” Jamie echoed.

“Whatever,” Ronnie spat.

Ronnie’s eyes slithered to me and narrowed.

Coach slid between us, blocking his view. “You got something else to say?”

“Yeah. Get your shit and get out of my room,” he said as if there wasn’t a barrier between us.

“Your room?” Coach drawled.

“I was there first. He threw the first punch. I want him gone.”

I don’t know why his words hurt me. I didn’t want to live there. In fact, I hated it. Guess I hated being discarded more.

Why am I so disposable?

“I’m serious,” Ronnie said. “I want you out.”

“Bodhi,” the RA called from his office. “I need to speak with you.”

Ronnie made a satisfied sound. “I’ll pack up your stuff.”

I pushed around Coach. “Do not touch my stuff.”

Coach’s arm wound around my waist, pulling me back.

Ronnie chortled and strolled down the hall like he’d won. I started after him, but Coach wouldn’t let me go.

“We’ll go make sure he doesn’t mess with your stuff,” Ryan offered, pushing off the wall.

Jamie stood. “Good call.”

“Stay out of trouble,” Coach told them.

“You’re the one punching people, Coach,” Jamie mused. Coach cut him a look, and he blanched. “We’re going to dinner after.” He glanced at me. “Wanna join?”

I fought the urge to look over my shoulder to see if he was talking to me.

“He’s gonna be a while,” Coach answered for me.

“Well, if you change your mind, let us know,” Wes offered.

---